Steering wheel spinner



Dec. 15, 1942. J. D. -|A'ssETT 2,305,527

' STEERING wHEEL Si INNER Filed March 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w. Inventor J5me: pan A) 641 s ref? A Home Dec. 15, 1942; J ss 2,305,527

STEERING WHEEL SPINNER Filed March 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor J2me, paw, Awe,

By 5mm .4 Name Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in steering wheels for vehicles and more particularly therefor to permit spinning of an automobile steering wheel with more case.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel spinner which can be readily mounted on conventional steering wheels with but a minimum. of manual effort, and without in any manner requiring deformation of the conventional forms of steering wheels.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a steering wheel spinner which will have a swivelling action to the end that there will be no friction on the drivers hand when the spinner is used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary plan view showing one form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a second form of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a third form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the expansion unit used in conjunction with the form of the invention shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, that numeral 5 denotes the steering wheel rim which is connected to a hub 6 by spokes 1, l. Numeral 8 generally refers to the improved spinner, the same consisting of an annular bearing race 9 having an elongated channeled protrusion H] for partly receiving a portion of the rim 5. As shown in Figure 1, the race 9 is provided with a cylindrical boss ll protruding therefrom at a point diametrically opposite from the protrusion l and over this boss II is disposed a collar l2. The portion of the interior of the collar disposed over the boss I I is smooth so that the collar can readily turn on the boss, while the remaining interior portion of the collar is threaded to accommodate threads on a neck l3 which protrudes from a longitudinal and transversely curved saddle 14, this saddle embracing a portion of the hub 6. The collar l2 has a spanner wrench receiving opening l therein. Obviously, by setting the race 9 properly between the rim 5 and the hub 6 and rotating the collar I2, the spinner can be positively retained in place.

The spinner further includes a ring l6 circumferentially grooved to accommodate ball-bearings or other bearing means I! carried by the race 9. A pair of hand grip bars 18, I8 of curved formation extend adjacent each other across the ring IS, the intermediate portions of the bars 18 coming substantially close together.

Obviously, when the bars l8 are grasped by one hand of the driver in order to spin the steering wheel, the ring 16 will rotate or swivel in the race 9 as the steering wheel is rotated.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figure 3 wherein an annular race 9a is employed and provided with a channeled protrusion lOa for embracing a steering wheel rim 5a and at a diametrically opposite point with a channeled saddle Ma projecting rigidly from the race 9a to embrace a portion of the steering wheel hub 6a. In the race 9a is a rotatable ring 16a bridged by hand grip bars l8a, l8a. The spinner 8a is assembled with respect to the Wheel by springing the rim 5a, setting the spinner and then permit-- ting the rim 5a to return to position and retain the spinner in positive position. Suitable bearing means Ila are provided between the ring Mia and the race 9a and to prevent slipping of the spinner, rubber liners I9, 20 are provided for the protrusion Illa and saddle Ma, respectively.

A third form of the invention is shown in Figure 5, reference character 5b denoting a steering wheel rim, while reference character 6b denotes a steering wheel hub and between these elements is interposed a spinner generally referred to by reference character 8b. This spinner consists of a race 9b having a protrusion lfib channeled to receive a portion of the rim 517. Between a diametrically op-posite point of the race 9b and the hub 61) is an expansion unit 2|. This expansion unit consists of a pair of blocks 22, 23, the block 22 being bifurcated to receive a tongue 24 projecting from the block 23. The blocks are inwardly tapered on arcs and have their opposite side portions channeled to receive portions of the race 9b and hub 61). A screw is rotatably disposed through the block 23 and is threadedly engaged into the block 22. Obviously, by unscrewing the screw 25 the unit 2| can be easily set between the hub 6b and the race 91), after which by feeding the screw 25 inwardly, the blocks 22, 23 are brought together and in expanding and abutting the hub 6b, tends to clamp the spinner 8b against the rim 5b.

The spinner 8b has a rotatable ring l6b mounting a rim and a hub; a spinner for facilitating rotation of the steering wheel, said spinner being interposed between the hub and the rim, and an expansion unit between the hub and the spinner for clamping the spinner in positive position, said unit comprising a pair of tapered blocks interposed end to end between the hub and the spinner and groove for interfitting with the same, and means to variably clamp said blocks to- 10 gether.

JAMES DUNLAP HASSET'I. 

